Page 62 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

She’s bare before me, her skin glowing in the dim light, and I’m on her in an instant, my mouth crashing against hers as I position myself between her legs.

There’s no gentleness, no slow build-up. I enter her in one powerful thrust, burying myself to the hilt.

“Fuck,” she gasps, her back arching as her nails dig into my back.

The feeling of her, tight and slick around me, nearly undoes me, but I hold on, setting a hard, relentless pace. Every thrust is rough, desperate, fueled by the need to claim her, to lose ourselves in each other before the chaos of tomorrow.

Paige meets me with equal intensity, her hips lifting to meet every thrust, her breath hot against my ear as she moans. Her hands are everywhere—grasping my shoulders, my back, her nails leaving marks that I’ll wear proudly.

“Don’t stop,” she gasps.

I growl in response, my hand gripping her thigh as I push her harder against the table, angling deeper. The sounds she makes drive me wild—whimpers, gasps, cries of pleasure that mix with the slaps of our bodies colliding.

The tension coils tighter, a hot, electric pulse between us as we push each other closer to the edge. I can feel her tightening around me, her body trembling with the force of her approaching climax.

“Come for me,” I command, my voice rough, feral.

Her answer is a wordless cry as she shatters, her body shuddering against me as she tips over the edge. The sight of her, lost in ecstasy, pulls me under, and with a final, powerful thrust, I join her.

We’re both panting as the last waves of pleasure ripple through us. I press my forehead to hers, trying to catch my breath, our bodies still connected, sweat-slicked and trembling.

Slowly, I pull back, lifting her off the table and carrying her to the bedroll, laying her down gently. I collapse beside her, pulling her close.

Finally, I break the silence, my voice low, rough. “Whatever happens tomorrow, know that you’re mine. I don’t need magic to find my way back to you—in every life I get.”

She turns her head, capturing my gaze with those bright, glittering eyes. “I love you,” she whispers.

I pull her closer, our lips meeting in a final, lingering kiss, this one softer, a promise more than a demand. We stay like that, wrapped around each other, letting the warmth of our bodies lull us into sleep for what might very well be our last night in this life. I dream only of finding her in the next.

16

PAIGE

Beside me, Aries sleeps soundly. I don’t blame him. Whatever nervous energy we had was spent earlier. I’m not sure why I’m wide awake now, considering my own exhaustion before, but as I lay beside him in our tent, my mind whirs and I know sleep isn’t happening anytime soon.

Giving up, I climb quietly out of bed and pull on my clothes before slipping outside. The camp is fully dark as I wander through the maze of tents. The only soldiers still awake are the ones standing guard or patrolling the perimeter. I nod at a couple of them and earn a quick smile from each.

I’ve made it nearly to the edge of camp when I see a figure sitting on a fallen log. They aren’t wearing a soldier’s uniform. Worried, I creep closer until I can make out their shape and features.

It’s not only her height and build that give her away. It’s that blonde ponytail glowing in the moonlight that makes her unmistakable.

I approach Blossom quietly, not wanting to disturb her if she’s deep in thought, but she looks up and catches my eye before I can decide whether to interrupt.

“Can’t sleep?” she asks, her voice low but warm. She gestures for me to join her.

I sit down beside her. “Too much on my mind, I guess.”

She nods, understanding without me needing to say more. “It’s always like this before a big fight. You start thinking about all the ‘what ifs,’ and they just won’t let you rest.”

“Yeah,” I admit, staring up at the stars winking back at us. “I used to lay awake at night, worrying about all of my Head Librarian duties—and that was mostly just paperwork.” She snorts. I smile, but it vanishes quickly. “The stakes are a lot higher this time around.”

“You’re worried about Constantine showing up.”

“You’ve thought about it too?”

“Of course. I’d be naïve not to consider it. Especially since he’s already been here to supply our enemies with weapons.”

I blow out a breath. “I don’t know if I’m ready to face him.”

---